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A most interesting thread.

There are probably quite a few people in the world who would have trouble finding there way out of a paper bag. "There are many educated fools in the land" was something my best mentor stated several occasions.

I think there are a lot of reasons why history isn't presented well, received well, or embraced by some. If we were all history buffs, it might be a pretty dull world (nah, not really).

A few of my observations include:

1) many parents have no interest and therefore will not foster in interest in history in their children; 2) trips to Disneyland and themeparks get greater emphasis than something educational; 3) quality of teachers, in general, may have declined (the brightest women have a lot more lucrative and challenging opportunities elsewhere, for which I am glad) (many high school classmates who are now teachers, I'd be reluctant to have them teach my kids); 4) coach/history teacher was a common combo when I was in junior high, with seemingly a lot more enthusiasm on teacher's part for sports; 5) decline in entire family sharing a sit-down meal at home, which would facilitate dialog; 6) enthusiastic teachers/profs of history can be infectious; 7) limited book selection at Wal-Mart (regrettably, some people can't expand their horizons beyond Wal-Mart); 8) excessive viewing of non-educational venues; 9) lack of interest in why things are the way they are or what caused something to be; 10) lack of good history writers for young people? (Dava Sobel and Barbara Tuchman write seductively and bring their topics to life, Tuchman weaving so beautifully the many dynamics that characterize history); 11) Steven Ambrose was pre-med until he took an elective history course.....he was hooked, and never turned back.

The Nashville paper often features someone trying to turn their lives around. One minority female who was pursuing a GED, if I recall, was shocked to learn of the Holocaust and find such discrimination on such a scale. She said it made her cry to think that the Holocaust had happened. I wondered what TV she viewed as a child.

I've had/seen: 1) grad students ask me if Germany was in Europe; 2) guidance counselors delight at placing a D-student teacher graduate in a teaching position...quite a feather in their cap?; 3) seemingly eager students wishing to check out classics and good reading materials, only to be turned down because the parent's had run up huge library fines; 4) veteran grade school teachers who did not know where the late Winter Olypmics were held, and what religious relic that town is noted for; 5) etc., etc.

Overall, I try to find redeeming qualities in people. Maybe if history isn't their thing, they might have some other quality which will contribute to society in a positive way.

In a message dated 3/9/2006 11:41:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

The first was a student that was failing American History survey. She
> did
> not know what World War 2 was or when it was or even where it occurred.
> Trying to help her memory, I said well what about the Holocaust. She
> gave
> me a blank look and I said you know Hitler, the Jews, etc. Her only
> reply
> was "What's a Jew?" She was an education major.
>

I have enjoyed reading these posts and finally I have to weigh in after seeing many thoughts on what we think is wrong. This post says a lot to me. I am a historian, and also for many years have done Living History/reenactment programs for the public in the time periods of Civil War, WWI and WWII. Many of my fellow reenactors are history teachers in middle school and high school, and let me tell you --- their classes LOVE history because the teachers KNOW it and can do indepth fun things to teach it. The story above about the education major's gnat brain adequacy says it all! THEY DON'T KNOW ANY HISTORY, SO HOW CAN THEY TEACH IT!!!

Also, by giving programs I see a scary level of knowledge (or lack thereof) in the general public, and again, the stories on this thread just bear out typical stories I can give you. It really is disheartening. But on a more optimistic level, I get lots of homeschooled and private schooled kids at our programs who are delights to talk to. They know more than any public school teacher I can name. So there are enthusiastic kids out there, who are getting the love of history and getting the knowledge from some place. Like little gems, they make my day.

Mauriel Joslyn